Time and How We Use It
A bit of "time wasting" before my sister's wedding
It's not something we like to think about, but it's true. Time is one of the greatest gifts you will ever receive, and yet, it's the easiest thing to waste. Matthew 6:21 tells us that where our treasure is, our hearts will be. Ephesians 5:15-16 says, "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." If that wasn't convincing enough, Psalm 90:12 says, "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
The key to overcoming the time-wasting problem, in my mind, is to understand why we waste our time even when we know we're wasting it. For me, the answer has been uncomfortable but simple: it is easier to busy my mind with things that feel productive than to do the things that actually require change. Things like prayer, reflection, apologizing when I’ve hurt someone, or serving the Lord in ways that require humility and attention are harder for me than staying busy.
In the past, I was filling my time with what looked productive. Working out, practicing, studying far beyond what was necessary, going for runs, or (the common time-waster) scrolling took a lot of my time.
I'm the first to admit that I've wasted a lot of my 20 years. This chapter of my life feels like a do-over in a lot of ways because I cannot run away the way I used to. I can't stay late at practice or go for a jog, and studying in abundance just isn't really needed at this point in my education. Yet, I've found a handful of obvious and not-so-obvious things that have changed the way I use and view my 24 hours.
Disclaimer here: I am not claiming to have mastered using my time well, but I am working on it! Here's how:
My List
1. Be bored and stop touching the phone. I know it's so easy to use it as a crutch. We scroll instead of starting conversations with the people around us, and we grab it first thing in the morning to "catch up" with what we missed in our sleep. I'll probably make a whole post on social media later, but for now, I'll encourage you to take it easy on the phone. Be bored. I am guilty of this, but we don't need a podcast or music to fill every silence, and we really don't need to know where one of our sisters' elementary school friends is going on vacation this year. Pick up a book, pray, journal (if that's your thing), or just sit and think for a while.
2. Eat later. Now, this is an odd one, but it is wildly versatile in application. Growing up on a farm, my parents instilled a rule we've always followed in some capacity: you don't eat dinner until the cows have had their dinner. This wasn't hard if you weren't that hungry and the weather was nice. It was much more difficult when snow was on the ground, and your stomach was grumbling. In translation, give yourself some healthy responsibility. If you can't have your morning coffee until you've spent time in the Word, you might not waste time in bed for quite as long. If you can't go to that concert or event until you've finished the assignment you've been putting off, you might actually get that thing done.
3. Kill being passive with your day. Sit down to eat your meals and actually taste them. Notice the different types of trees on your afternoon walk and admire the Creator. Actually do the things on your to-do list and enjoy the accomplishment of completion. When we furiously multitask and run on autopilot, we're losing some very attainable joy in the mundane.
4. Pursue a "why not" mindset. This has been on my radar for a few years now, and I actually cannot count the number of times it has helped me accomplish more. Sure, I could do my laundry later, but why not now? I know this sounds ridiculously elementary, but think about how many things you're probably avoiding for pretty much no reason (unless you really are just super efficient). Why not go through your t-shirt drawer? Why not text that friend to meet for coffee? Why not finish up that home project sitting in the corner of the garage? Once in a while, I'll catch myself walking past some clean clothes, think about this, turn around, and put them away (because why wouldn't I).
So there's my short list. I hope it's helpful and doesn't sound like an echo of the obvious "self-help" tips you've heard a hundred times.
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